When it comes to home improvement projects, kitchen renovations are one of the most sought after to complete. Whether your aim is to boost the resale value of your property, or you want a kitchen that wows your loved ones and neighbours, there are lots of eco-friendly renovation ideas that not only stand out, but can save you money and energy at the same time.
With climate change being at the forefront of many homeowners’ minds, doing your bit for the environment and taking steps to create a green kitchen can be a great place to start. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here is a 10-step checklist that will help you along the way.
1. Find Green Contractors
While some homeowners prefer to go down the DIY route, others see the benefits of hiring green contractors to carry out their kitchen renovation project. For proceedings to run smoothly, it’s vital that you pick a contractor who understands your mission and has experience in eco-friendly renovations.
When you’re vetting companies, ask if they’re familiar with green building materials and techniques. If they have experience building sustainable green kitchen spaces, they’ll be happy to talk about sustainable options for your kitchen renovations.
2. Reuse and Recycle
Once you’ve found a green contractor to carry out renovation work, you should have a think about the furnishings you want in your kitchen space. Rather than replacing your floors, you may want to consider refinishing them. For your cabinets, you could benefit from refacing them instead of buying brand-new. Doing so will be both eco-friendly and well within your budget.
Even if you decide to replace kitchen cabinets, you may be able to place them elsewhere, such as in your garage as storage space. If your cabinets are in excellent condition, why not donate them to charity? There are lots of second-hand stores that you can check out, too, for kitchen cabinets that are a fraction of their original price. Getting into the habit of reusing and recycling will help you be more eco-conscious.
3. Keep Your Renovation Plan Simple
When undertaking a kitchen renovation, it can be easy for the project to spiral out of control. When looking for inspiration, you may have been amazed by the acres of countertops and huge rows of cabinets, but they’re not practical and efficient for most properties.
You need to remember that being eco-friendly is sometimes more about what you don’t do, rather than what you actually do. It’s vital that you draw up a plan from the beginning that outlines your objectives and goals and helps your kitchen renovation project stay on track.
4. Use Green Countertops
In most homes, the countertop is regarded as the kitchen centrepiece. While materials like quartz and granite can act as beautiful work surfaces, there are many renewable and recycled options that you can select from that will give your new kitchen a unique look.
Recycled paper countertops are the most popular choice with eco-friendly homeowners. Whether you believe it or not, kitchen countertops can be made from paper. Not only will this surface be scratch resistant, but recycled paper countertops are heat resistant too. You can also look into recycled glass countertops and bamboo countertops that can work just as well and make your kitchen stand out.
5. Purchase Energy Efficient Appliances
One of the best green decisions you can make for your kitchen is to get rid of old appliances and replace them with energy efficient alternatives. Doing so will give you peace of mind that your appliances run on less energy and are friendlier to the environment.
No one wants a hefty bill at the end of the month, so looking into suitable green appliances for your kitchen should be your next step. To help make your mind up, you can check out customer ratings and reviews from likeminded individuals, which will ensure you pick the best appliances.
6. Bring in Natural Light
While it’s important that you think about the right lighting fixtures for your kitchen, bringing in plenty of natural light will mean you aren’t having to turn the lights on as often. The more natural light that shines into your kitchen, the more health benefits you will gain. Natural light will change the atmosphere of your kitchen and make the space more welcoming and inviting to be in. Windowed doors and skylights are great natural sources of light that can really enhance your kitchen space.
7. Think Local
You may not realise it, but a lot of the hidden environmental impact in a kitchen renovation stems from the long distances that the products must travel to get to our front door. Even if you’re purchasing energy efficient appliances, the provider you pick may be housed hundreds of miles away.
If you live in a town or city, there will be establishments close to you that you should consider using. You may also want to drive to the store yourself to pick up the appliances. You should bring the “buy local” approach to other aspects of your life, too, such as where you purchase food from. Buying local not only supports local businesses, but helps save you money.
8. Use VOC-Free Paint
If your kitchen walls are looking a little bare and you want to freshen them up, a lick of paint may be what’s needed. The new paint smell is not something that should coat your walls, especially if you want to create an eco-friendly kitchen.
VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are chemicals that are released as gases from various products, such as new furnishings, household cleaners and paint. These harmful vapours are still released way after the paint has dried, which can cause both short- and long-term detrimental health effects. The last thing you want is to endure headaches, nausea, and dizziness, but in worse cases, VOCs have even been linked to cancer. So, it’s recommended to purchase VOC-free paint.
9. Find Eco-Friendly Flooring
For homeowners who want to strip their floors and invest in a new one, there is a plethora of sustainable flooring options to pick from. Whether it’s reclaimed wood planks, bamboo, or recycled tiles, it can be hard to know which route to go down.
It’s best to conduct thorough research and look for inspiration on platforms like Pinterest. Doing so will help you decide what will look right in your kitchen space. There are lots of eco-friendly flooring manufacturers who you can contact who will give you further advice and guidance on what flooring to choose.
10. Select Water-Efficient Fixtures
Whether it’s the kitchen sink, dishwasher, or washing machine, tons of water gets used or wasted in a kitchen. If you’re serious about becoming more eco-friendly, there are ways that you can get your water bill down, leaving no nasty surprises at the end of the month. In addition to purchasing energy efficient appliances, you should follow suit with your water fixtures. Low-flow taps are a popular choice for many homeowners because they conserve water without sacrificing the luxurious feel of high-water pressure.
There are invaluable advantages that you can gain from a green kitchen, like creating a healthy indoor environment, lowering your carbon footprint and increasing your property value. To create a sustainable space, make sure that you use the checklist above which can help turn your eco-friendly kitchen dream into a successful reality.
Feature image: Gareth Hubbard; Image 1: Kelly Sikkema
